BATAC CITY — The Commission on Higher Education (CHED), in close coordination with the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) and the Philippine National Police (PNP), has launched the Crisis/Incident Management and Bomb Threat Response Training on December 6 to help Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) strengthen preparedness and reinforce campus safety amid recent bomb threat incidents.
From this year alone, 209 bomb threats were reported in HEIs, with 128 incidents occurring in October and November, according to data from PNP and a CHED survey. These incidents have disrupted academic activities and raised safety concerns among students, faculty, and staff. In response, CHED has rolled out targeted interventions to help institutions strengthen prevention, response, and continuity measures, ensuring the safety and well-being of all stakeholders.
The first run of the program was held from December 6 to 8 at Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) in Batac, Ilocos Norte, with 48 representatives from 16 State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) identified as highly vulnerable to such threats. During the three-day program, participants completed intensive modules, expert-led discussions, and practical emergency simulations facilitated by specialists from the OCD and PNP.
CHED Chairperson Dr. Shirley C. Agrupis affirmed the Commission’s strong commitment to campus safety and resilience, stressing the crucial role of HEIs in protecting learners, personnel, and communities.
“I hope that we continue to give the highest importance to safety measures in our institutions,” she said. “This initiative also signals the need to develop more academic programs that advance knowledge in protecting our civil society. Through this training program, I hope CHED can create new learning pathways dedicated not only to safeguarding higher education but also to promoting the safety of our society.”
Overseen by CHED Commissioner Hon. Ricmar P. Aquino, the program equips faculty, staff, security personnel, and administrators with crisis management competencies, including threat evaluation, bomb threat response protocols, coordinated communication strategies, contingency simulations, and emergency drills.
Three additional training cohorts are scheduled for January and February 2026, ensuring broader sectoral coverage and reinforcing CHED’s sustained drive to help HEIs develop robust security systems and maintain safe, resilient campuses for all learners and personnel.
